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PrintCOLUMBIA — The Columbia Peace Coalition will host a statewide rally and march on Saturday in downtown Columbia.
The “YES WE CAN! Begin the Peace Economy! YES WE CAN! END THE WARS!” rally will highlight the economic and human costs of war amidst the current global economic crisis. The Columbia Peace Coalition will also recognize the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq this March.
“Our hope is to relay the strong message of the presence of peace,” said Lily Tinker Fortel, the community outreach coordinator for Mid-Missouri Peaceworks. “We recognize the connection between the amount of money we’re spending on this war and its economic and human costs.”
The rally will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Courthouse Square, or at Stotler Lounge at MU's Memorial Union if it rains. Participants can listen to live music such as Divine Rhythm, a percussion ensemble, and vocal musician Violet Vonder Haar.
At 2 p.m. four speakers will address the crowd: Tomas Young, an Iraq War Veteran; Zaid Maher, an Iraqi citizen; Almeta Crayton, a former Columbia councilwoman and social justice advocate; and Andy Heaslet of the Peace Economy Project of St. Louis.
At 2:45 p.m. participants will march through downtown Columbia. The demonstration is expected to end around 3:30 p.m. at Courthouse Square.
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Comments
Those darn liberals! They gave Bush such a hard time, but with Obama in office, their liberal bias means they're just going to let Obama off the hook! Why, I...
...what's that you say? They're still protesting in pursuit of their ideals? Well, I'll be. Maybe they really are serious about their beliefs, and their desire for a more peaceful world, and they're not just into one-time political stunts when the opposition party's in office, like some other recent folks I could mention.
More power to them, and to getting this message to the President and everyone else. The famous quote by Thich Nhat Hanh rings true: "There is no way to peace; peace is the way."
What will protesting for an abstract term accomplish? As liberal as I consider myself, I think these people need to do some research and protest something actually tangible instead of "peace."
Mr. Art Vandelay:
Stop the presses. I am in agreement with you, sir.
Perhaps advocating for a United Nations which works together towards meaningful dialogue, cooperation and proper responses to crisis might be a more tangible cause.
They are not protesting peace, they are protesting war
Tim:
I've heard and seen these kind of protesters before, back in the Vietnam Days. Many used people's feelings towards war to recruit and spread communism.
Today, some of them come across as old burnt out hippies with nothing more than the message of "peace, love, dope."
Few, if any, present a plan or method for conflict/resolution, or provide a forum for intelligent discussion of issues. (Honk for Peace just doesn't make it in my book, neither does a noisy "peace" party/rally.)
Maybe it makes them feel empowered. It just makes me shake my head.
They should take their march/protest to the United Nations in New York if they're not too afraid or lazy to take their cause to the real battle ground of global buracrats and arm-chair warriors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWkWSLEW-...
Ray,
Ummm Ok